Battle of Callinicum
Callinicum, today Raqqa, northern Syria
What happened
A Byzantine army under Belisarius, with Ghassanid Arab allies, fought a Sasanian Persian army under Azarethes, with Lakhmid Arab allies. A Persian army invaded Byzantine Syria by an unexpected northern route. Belisarius followed it and, pushed by his own troops, gave battle beside the Euphrates near Callinicum. The Byzantine infantry held their ground until nightfall, then crossed the river and withdrew.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a Persian victory, but a costly one, and the Persians failed to take Antioch. It was the last major field battle of the first part of Emperor Justinian I's war with Persia.
What came next
Belisarius was relieved of command and recalled to Constantinople, and the Persian king disgraced Azarethes. The two empires signed the Perpetual Peace in 532 CE.
Did you know?
The battle fell at Easter, and Azarethes asked Belisarius to delay it out of respect for the Christians and Jews in the army.
Timeline
- 466Emperor Leo I rebuilds Callinicum.
- 19 April 531The Persians win at Callinicum.
- 532The Perpetual Peace is signed.
- 796-809Raqqa serves as the Abbasid capital under Harun al-Rashid.